Skip to main content

Full text of "The Cuban rebellion"

See other formats


<v 



/\U 



WQtw 



<H 



TIE CUBAN REBELLION, 

ITS HISTORY, GOVEfUfrMENT, RESOURCES, 



_JkL 



AOORKSS 



OP^ 



GENERAL NAPOLEON ARANGO 

TO HIS OOUNTRTMIIN IN AJEIMS. 



CUBANS ! 

When Carlos Manuel de Cespedes thought 
of raising the cry of Independence, and ex- 
pected the other cities of the Island to 
second him, he received, as a reply, from 
the jurisdiction of Holguin and Puerto Prin- 
cipe, that thfy would not support him ; and 
the Cinco Villas and other towns maintained 
an attitude of expectancy. Notwithstanding 
this, Cespedes said that he had no need of 
the remainder and that he ivould pronounce 
on the 14th. of October, as ke did in fact, 
bat some what in advance of that date. 
Having so many reasons, as I have, to know 
the country, as well as the character and 
tendencies of its inhabitants; and also 
what Spain would do and what was to be 
expected of the people on the Island : know- 
ing, moreover, the policy of the United 
States and the effects as well as the conse- 
quences that must follow a revolution, 
especiably when it was an extemporaneous 
outburst j and being convinced, besides, 
ik&if %l\viiig-- iur VLo Iicterugfcxit;Ou« ijaluie of 
our population and to the Utile enlightenment 
of tne masses, nothing but extermination, 
could be expected for Cuba, I took part in 
framing the reply given to Cespedes by 
Puerto-Principe, stating that, since he took 
pains to carry out so wicked an idea, he should 
not be seconded by us ; and we made him 
responsible before posterity, for the evils 
which he was about to bring on Cuba. 

Cespedes and his inexperienced fellow- 
believers proclaimed Independence at Yara, 
without any supply of arms or munitions of 
war, without provisions, clothing, &c, &c, 
with which to support their movement. 
Ignorant of what revolution is, they laun- 
ched forth just like children who heedlessly 
play with a wild beast, in entire ignorance 
of its nature. The first moment of enthus- 
iasm, on the part of the peoble, and of sur- 
prise, on the part of Government, gave them 
the victory at Bayamo ; and they at once 
thought that the Independence of Cuba was 
already secured. This was a fatal error, a 
sad illusion, which blunted their common 
sense and gave loose rein to their passions. 
It was the fatal error of those men who had 
not sufficient strength of will to be able to 
wait. Ah! how fatal it is not to know 
when to await ! 

The Camagiieyanos were aroused at the 
enthusiastic shout for liberty, and they 
wished to help their brethren of Bayamo, 
driven on by a sentiment of fraternity and 
by their yet stronger love of liberty ; — that 
noble aspiration which God has imbued 
in the hearts of all men. I shared not in 
these desires, although I did really in their 
sentiments, but I was restrained by expe- 
rience and by my knowledge of the situa- 
tion! mm Anxious to be of service to my coun- 
try,'.!. Offered to go to Bayamo as a repre- 
sentative from Puerto Principe, which I 
did*** 

F/om my first steps into the Eastern De- 
partment, I was convinced of the error into 
..^tffeh the people had fallen, and the impos- 
swility of keeping up so unequal a contest. 
Moreover, after studying the revolution and 
sounding the feelings of the people, I dis- 
covered that they did not desire the move- 
ment but had been dragged into it j without 
noticing, in the beginning, owing to their 
blind precipitation, that they were not pre- 
pared to secure a successful issue. 

In some private circles I spoke of the 
propriety of changing the cry for Indepen- / 
dence into an acceptation of the Cadiz pro- 
gramme ; — an idea which was tvell received 
and seemed so to change the course of affairs, 
that I ran a great risk, being threaten- 
ed by the few who persisted in their original 



intention. I spoke to Cespedes and made 
known to him the untimeliness of the revo- 
lution ; that if he really desired the wel- 
fare of Cuba, this latter consisted in with- 
drawing from a war that must be ruinous 
and unsuccessful in the end ; that the liber- 
ties offered in the Cadiz programme were 
perhaps even more than tvould suit Cuba, &c, 
&c. Cespedes, convinced by my reasoning 
agreed to my proposals ; and if he then fail- 
ed to follow my advice it was, to use his 
own words, because he feared that he would 
not be obeyed by those who had already 
proclaimed for Independence. They did 
not understand the true policy that should 
be followed in the guidance of naMons. 
They began badly and will end worse. 

On my return to Puerto Principe I found 
the country in insurrection, dragged on by 
two or three men who were led wrong by 
their ill-digested ideas of liberty or by their 
own private interest, and whose only wish 
was revolution in whatever way it could bee 
brought about. I grieved at litis mistake, but] 
nilWi±t' lvbiiig heart ; aiiu,~ aiway&*fl•rIIr4l^ , 
advancing the prosperity of Cuba, I called 
a meeting which was held at Clavellinas. 
There I made known the result of my ob- 
servations during my trip to Bayamo ; and, 
after some discussions, the force of my ar- 
guments prevailed. With one exception, all 
agreed that we should adhere to the Cadis 
programme. I was afterwards appointed Ge- 
neral-in-Chief with especial charge (thus 
was it set forth in the record) that I should 
have an interview with General Valmaseda 
for the purpose noted above. 

In a conversation with that gentleman, he 
manifested the best of intentions in favor of 
a pacification but stated that he was not 
empowered, hy his government, to make 
any concession. He offered, nevertheless, to 
grant effectual ones, so soon as he could 
obtain the power. He called my attention 
to this j that whatever the liberties which 
should be granted to Cuba, the rights of the 
Cubans would have to be regarded as at- 
tacked, if they did not send representatives, 
to have a hand in everything that might be 
done in regard to this country. 

I knew too well the reasons of General 
Valmaseda, but fearing that my fellow- 
countrymen might not seize the force of his 
reasoning, we agreed upon a truce of four 
days, which I requested, in order to call 
another meeting more numerous, and one 
which should decide upon the matter. This 
meeting tookplace at Las Minas ; and there, 
as well as at Clavellinas, the majority was 
— not for a continuation of the war but for 
accepting the Cadis programme,^ Had a vote 
been taken, it is certain that this choice 
would have carried; but I refrained from 
calling a vote in order to be consistent with 
the Caunao district, which had made known, 
through its delegate, Don Carlos L. Mola 
(Junior) that it wished to have no voting ; 
because, in case thereof, they would be 
bound to its result ; and that district was 
only in favor of accepting whatever the go- 
vernment chose to grant them. 

An immense majority was in favor of the 
programme ; and, nevertheless, the war was 
kept up, because those, bent upon it, spared 
no means nor suggestion to entice away 
those in favor of the Cadiz programme. That 
is to say, that, taking advantage of family 
ties, of friendships, and of an ill compre- 
hended association, &c, &c, they dragged 
along with them the univary and the inex 
perienced, who were then reluctant enough 
and who now know their error. As I never 
wished to force upon any one (not even on 
my own brothers) my own ideas, nor to 
make use of any other means than persua- 
sion, in accordance with reason, I confined 




myself to simply resigning the rank that 
hid been conferred on me and withdrew to 
nty plantation. From that time forward, I 
bfisied myself merely with enlightening the 
people, showing them the mistakes into 
Thich they were led by those who were 
interested in the continuance of the war. 

I have not sought to impose my notions 
«n i any one, but I do not, any the more, ac- 
cept those of others, when my reason and 
ray conscience reject them. And I believe 
ihere is no right, [nor law, nor reason to 

pport those who willingly, or through 
whish to force upon others their own 

eas, however good or holy these may be. 
iThose who are at the head of the Cuban' 

rernment and guide the revolution believe 

eir triumph possible ; they think their 

leas are correct and their way a good one. 

^ r ery well ; but, not believing as they do, I 

Move aside from tliat government, whose 

essure and arbitrariness are such, that it 

11 not even admit neutrality in others. I 
] not wage war against you,* I will not 
tip aims itgitiiiftt Jou, except ilk ""p'CTSo* 
al defence ; but I separate from men who 
wish to impose their own notions on others 
through force. You are free to think and 
-act as you like, and I reserve to myself the 
same right, and act in accordance therewith. 

But there is more. In the position where, 
unfortunately and much against my will, 
events have placed me, I occupy a place as 
a public man, as a politician, in Cuban po- 
litics • and I should not remain inactive 
while I behold the destruction of Cuba, 2nd 
look out merely for my personal safety 
under the protection of the Spanish Govern- 
ment. No, Gentlemen, I would then be a 
bad patriot, and I love my country before 
liberty, or rather I do not understand the 
former piincipie as divorced from the latter. 
Both are intimately tound together* and, 
in order that the first be worthy, honorable 
and beneficial to humanity, it cannot be se- 
parated from the second. 

I am a Cuban, the same as yourselves, and 
I have consequently the same right to busy 
myself with the welfare of my country. Let 
every one have his method; you pretend 
that you obey the popular will ; that you 
are at the head of government, because of 
the will of the people and popular choice : 
that you act in conformity with ideas and 
sentiments of the Cubans; and, finally, that 
you are prcmoting the welfare and prosper- 
ity of Cuba. J shall prove entirely the con- 
trary. 

The favorable reception, with which my 
ideas were met at Bayamo, the meeting at 
Clavellinas, that at Las Minas, and the 
desire 3 — almost unanimous, — to accept the 
concessions offered by General Dulce, prove 
sufficiently that the country wanted peace; 
nevertheless you maintain war. Hence,po- 
pular suffrage in the country is but, a 
chimera. 

Let us see how the actual government was 
formed. On the one tide, Carles Manuel de 
Cespedes who, for himself and in his own 
name, set himself up as the dictator of Cuba, 
appointed a certain number of deputies for 
the East, at the famous meeting in Guaima- 
ro. That is a fine representation of popular 
will and an admirable republic, when the 
deputies are not elected by the people ! On 
the other hand, ihe aepembly at Puerto 
Principe, was illegally constituted and entirely 
unauthorized j and, finally, seme deputies 
ficm the Cinco Villas, — the only ones which 
peihaps held a legitimate representation, — 
met together and foirned the actual govern- 
ment, which they should have called the 
Venetian, rather than a Cuban Republic. 
They loimtd the government by sharing 
with each other the offices, and they propose 



thus to shape the destiny of Cuba. A hand- 
ful of men, thus representing over a million 
souls, who have had no share in their nomi- 
nation, does not assuredly constitute popu- 
lar election. 

The Cubans want the liberty of assem- 
blage, freedom of speech, respect of proper- 
ty, personal security, the liberty to leaTe 
the territory of the Republic, — which is a 
right secured in all nations of the world to 
every individual ; they want, in fine, to be 
governed as the majority choose, and riot 
according to the will of a few. But nothing 
of all this is done. Whoever puts forth* 
ideas contrary to those of the government 
or of any of its functionaries, is threatened 
with four shots ; property is a prey to the 
first comer, who, with arms in hand, can 
take possession of what suits him ; the lives 
of men are sported with, just as children 
sport with flies: and in fine, whoever at- 
temps to abandon the government, even 
without intending to wage war on it, is 
persecuted unto death. Hence the conduct 
of ssid government is s^t ~ ¥& eeBfermity 
with the ideas and sentiments of the coun- 
try. 

If to all this be added the arsons and the 
complete destruction of Cuban wealth, the 
demolition of towns and........ what must 

follow in the end, can there be one sensible 
man, who will maintain that all this consti- 
tutes the prosperity and well-being of 
Cuba $ Assuredly not. 

You employ force, deceit terror, to drag 
the masses on and carry out whatever you 
judge beneficial for the cause of Cuba ; I 
use only reason, truth, and the irresistible 
logic of facts and of experience, not the 
material argument of arms. 

Well then, knowing as I do, that the 
country does not want war and that it conti- 
nues therein under the pressure of the 
Cuban government, on the 'one hand and, 
on the other, out of fear of the punishment 
which the Spanish government might inflict; 
knowing, as I do, that nothing is to be ex- 
pected from the United States, as it was 
attempted to make the people believe > 
knowing that, since the beginning of the 
Insurrection, 40,000 men have come from 
Spain, and that many more will come — a fact 
generally unknown in this country; aw^re r 
as I am, that over 100,000 men are under 
arms ; that the coasts are well watched, an*t 
that the New York Junta lacks ressource** 
to send material aid to the Insurrection ; 
aware, moreover, that the Cuba, the Lillian, 
the expedition of Goicouria and others are 
lost resources ; that the Insurrection i* 
almost stifled in the East and in the Cincu 
Villas ; that in the Vuelta-Abajo, far from 
there being any secessionists, it is the coun- 
try-people themselves whe pursue thej-Hl-. 
surgents, as has just taken place in GuineBj 
knowing, as I do, that the families, to bj&J" 
met with in the fields, are anxious to retura-;* 
to the towns ; and aware of the importance** 
attached to my conduct, both in the Island*;** 
and abroad, 1 have made a new sacrifice ;• 
fcr my country. I have come forward with 
my family; to prove, by my example, that I 
do not believe in the triumph of the insur- 
rection, nor do I fear the Spanish govern- 
ment; which, animated as it is with the 
best of wishes, is ready to draw a veil over 
the past, provided the country can lu paci- 
fied and many tears, "much blood ajid less 
of property be spared. 

It is a!sacrifice indeed, Gentlemen, fori 
expose my name to the evil tongned and 
make it the butt cf false interpretations. 

I telieTe thinly that the happiness of Cuba 
and the weJia*e of humanity, censiao in the 
pacification of this beautiful country ; and 

maintain this in the presence of the whole 



2> "?? 






universe, with my hand on my conscience 
and head erect, as becomes a man of honor. 
There is no man who is infallible, and 
perhaps my opinions and determination 
may be wrong; bat I can at least affirm 
that I am acting in good faith, having for 
sole object in view, the welfare of my coun- 
try and of hnmanity, and making total 
abstraction of my own personality, as well 
as of my own interests. 

I am not a time-server but a man of fixed 
principles ; I am convinced of my opinions 
and feel the energy of my convictions, I 
now maintain what I have maintained since 
the beginning of the revolution, even pre- 
vious thereto^ My actual conduct is not 
therefore an apostacy, but the energetic 
continuance in my opinions and principles. 
These I do not mean to impose on any one; 
'* I merely make them known inviting all to 
\ examine them in every detail, and I am sure 
*. •, that they will follow my example. But, if 
*•* # blind to reason and unmindful^of the events, 
.•* jehieh for a year and a half have supported 
"my predictions, they persist in a struggle 
which I believe hopeless, let them keep on, 
but without extending the horrors of war to 
families* Let the women and children, whom 
government wishes to foster and daily sup- 
ports with rations of bread, rice, butter, &c, 
come to the City ; and let you keep on, if 
unfortunately you refuse to listen to the 
voice of reason and of patriotism, in that 
senseless contest, which you must later 
repent having ever begun. 
^ Reflect a moment; examine thoroughly, 
and not merely the appearances of the si- 
tuation, and you will see that the existing 
strife is an unqualifiable mistake, and its 
continuation an unparalleled blindness. The 
country has been dragged into a revolution, 
which the majority repudiated ;. — and not 
only the majority in number, but in the elm- 
racier of the persons. A small number, — 
very small indeed, an iusignificant minority 
has dragged on the majority , Where was 
ever such a thing witnessed before, gentle- 
men t What has become of the intelligence of 
Cubans f Where are the energy and the in- 
fluence of men of intelligence and character ? 
., I know, and I am positive, that those of 
*the majority think as I do; and nevertheless, 
they act differently, only because they lack 
resolution and are deceived by the few who 
are interested in keeping up the revolution, 
no matter by what means. The system, 
followed thus far, is deceit, and the result 
must be fatal. When a building is erected 
on shifting foundations it must inevitably 
crumble. I have striven during the Insurrec- 
tion, pertinaciously and without remiss, in 
disabusing the people so, that they could, 
knowingly and conscientiously, make a 
choice of what was for their interest; but 
as this method is diametrically opposed to 
that of some evil patriots, these latter have 
waged a bitter and unfair war against me. 
Cubans ! You have seen that I have always 
been a protector to the people ; that I have 
tried to enlighten them, that they might have 
a participation in everything, and know 
what they were doing, so as to follow their 
own ideas and not be carried by others ; but 
what has been the result ? I was treacher- 
ously and illegally arrested, at the request 
of those few who wish to rule the masses ; 
I was sentenced to death, and over twenty 
times have they tried to put an end to my 
Wfe. And there are yet some who, in their 
waywardness, seek my blood. Natural sense 
shows clearly that, when an attempt is made 
to annihilate him who speaks the truth, who 
enlightens and never deceives ; who instead 
of speculating on his fellow-countrymen 
and growing rich on the revolution, makes 
use of his own means to succor the masses 
(let all Yaguajay speak); who never makes 



use of any pressure to enforce his id^as ; 
who allows himself to be ruined from the 
neglect of his own interests, in order to give 
himself up solely to the welfare of his mnn - 
try ; does it not show clearly, I say, that 
the attempt is made only because Ms ad- 
versaries have different pretensions a&d a 
different line of conduct from his ! Now, 
what is this difference t It consists in -no 
lence, deceit, the use of force, spoliation of 
the neighbor, for one's own benefit ; it is tys 
potism, based on the ignorance in wrjich 
the people are kept. I have sought to h^ve 
the country governed as it is its Wish tibe 
governed, in accordance with universal suf- 
frage ; your government, on the contrary, 
pretend to rule it as they see fit. li&y 
state that they want liberty for the people, 
whilst the most cruel despotism weighs upop 
you. You know, unfortunately, butij|o 
well, that this is the clear and plain ^mh 
for you suffer too many of its sad con»- 
quences. 

The people are told that from the United 
States will come reinforcement and resour- 
ces ; that there are elements to spare for the 
continuation of the war ; that the Spanish 
soldier carries a cartrich — box and wears 
shoes of raw hide, and is short of pro visionl) 
that there are no troops, nor will any come 
from Spain ; that the taxes are ruining 
country, &c, &c. Well, I, who do not J 
against whom no one can cite a single 
unworthy of a man of honor ; in whom the 
Cubans have always had their last hope; 
and through whose veins runs the blood of 
real patriots, I tell you that all this is illu- 
sion, deceit, and a fatal chimera. ^ 

The government of the United States 
does not busy itself, nor can it, with the 
Cuban Insurrection. Look at Article 16 of 
the treaty of 1797, and you will learn that 
they cannot favor the Cubans in the least 
efficacious way, without failing in national 
dignity and exposing themselves to a coali* 
tion against themselves. That government 
is too polished and financially shrewd, to 
compromise itself in a war that would en- 
tail serious mischief upon its commerce ; 
and, moreover, there are other motives that 
would be too lengthy to detail. 

Elements to spare, are neither in ther 
country nor in the hands of the New York| 
Junta, who have made great outlays and 



ie aot 



thing. From Spain have come 40,000 men, 
and millions would be sent, if necessar; 
There are no taxes ; they have all 
suppressed, even the tithe : the 



I houses are filled with tobacco, sugar, hides, 
&e., to the value of many millions of 
dollars, that the territory which is occupied 
by the Cubans in insurrection is in a culti- 
vated and producing condition, such as has 
never before been witnessed, even during 
years of the greatest? abundance ; that thou- 
sands of percussion caps are daily made ; 
that he (Quesada) left here under commis- 
sion of importance, after having temporarily 
put Jordan in command, under instructions, 
as well as the other leaders, &c, &c, to an 
endless length. I address yon, fellow- 
co tin try-men, who are there on the ground 
of this insurrection whence I have lately 
come. You all, as well as myself, know that 
all these things are false, entirely false. 

Quesada states that he has gone to seek 
means and bring arms, with which to end 
the insurrection, but for what does he need 
them, if he lias 61,000 ment Is it possible that it 
Bhouid, not occur to the inhabitants of New- 
York to ask him what need he has of more 
means, when he has so many thousand men'? 
when he has over 20,000 arms and can make 
more, as well as powder and caps f Why has 
not that soldier of fourteen years campaign- 
ing taken possession, with that army, of one 
single town, at least, wherein to locate the 
government of the republic f Why has he not 
captured one single port through which to 
get aid, export the productions of the coun- 
try, to the value of millions, and thus ac 
quire a right to recognition as belligerents f 
Where are those schools ? Where are those 
.churches f Have those at Guaimaro and Si- 
banicii, which were burned by that renowned 
general been perchance rebuilt f Why are 
the soldiers unshod, or wearing strips of raw 
hide, if 3000 shoes are made weekly and 
4000 hides tanned per month % Were is flie 
abundance for the soldier 1 Were has he got 
coffee, rice, tobacco, &c. t Where are those 
sugaring-mjUs in regular running order ? 
Where are those warehouses, that contain 
millions ? Where is that rich growth when not 
only there is no cultivation going on, but 
government orders to destroy and lay waste 
the cultivation that was in existence t 
Where are those cap-factories ? Are a few 
samples of such caps to be taken for thou- 
sands 1 Then, as to the commission of Ma- 
nuel Quesada and his separation from 
command, do you not know, as well as I do, 



now begin to assert that the Cubans'shouidj that he was ignominiously deposed by the 
provide themselves with arms, by taking Chamber; and that, during his stay in Cuba, 
them from the enemy. The Spanish soldier^ from his first arrival, his conduct has been 
is to-day better provided for than in ordin- blameworthy, under all aspects f 
ary times, and he has abundance of every- f Well then, Cubans, this is the plan fol 



houses yield now more than in ordinary 
times ; and if the country ddes not enjoy 
greater franchises, it is due to the situation 
in which it is at present. So you see that 
you are being deceived and, not only your- 
selves, but also the Junta at New York and 
the whole world, as I shall pro?e, 

I have just read a manifesto of Manuel 
Quesada, published in New York under date 
of the 8th. inst., in which he sets astray 
entirely the opinion that should be formed 
of the state of the insurrection. I shall tear 
off the bandage. He states that the Cuban 
army numbers 61,000 that there are here 
five powder factories; that fire-arms are 
manufactured here, as well as swords and 
bayonets; that there are thirteen public 
schools and thirteen churches; that 3000 
shoes are made every week and 4000 hides 
tanned every month ; that the soldier re- 
ceives, for daily ration, beef, sugar, coffee, 
vegetables and rice at his discretion, to- 
bacco, &c.;that there are many sugar mills, 
grinding for the state ; that several ware- 



lowed from the beginning of the revolution, 
"'hey are deceiving you and our brethren in 
ew York, as well as the whole world. For 
tes& rcft& o pfl I say that the edifice i& raised 
bn insecure and imaginary foundations. For 
these reasons have I always tried to unde 
eeive the country and let them see cleariy, 
so as to prevent Cuba from sinking into the 
abyss wherein she is intended to be cast. 
Withal I have not been understood. There 
has been * 4 no lack of some one who, out of 
exaltation, and under the pressure of some 
sad aberration, has qualified my conduct as 
treasonable. Ah,! Whoever stated tt that knows 
not even the meaning of his words ! When 
did I ever recognize this government ? Ne- 
ver ; but, rather have I always been in 
opposition thereto ^:r as I wish my coun- 
try's welfare, I c< not second an illegal, 
arbitrary, despotic government, that is anni- 
hilating our land. 

They recognize their error, but they have 
not loyalty enough to confess it ; they are 
aware that they are neither statesmen, nor 
lovers of liberty, nor patriots, and their 
consciences sting them ; they know that I 
have always seen farther than they could, 
and more clearly ; that all my predictions * 



have been fulfilled ; that I have been alone 
in maintaining energetically my principles, 
bearing up against all kinds of privation 
and danger ; and they do not forgive me 
for these advantages over them; they know 
that my past and my present career have 
been free from all stain, and they do not 
forgive me for that, 

Well, if to have thus behaved ; to have 
made entire abstraction of self and my in- 
terests, to look after the welfare of Cuba ; 
to have done harm to no one, but much 
good ; far from having taken life, to have 
saved the lives of many, without distinction 
of nationality; to have respected always 
the property of others, and never have let 
my hand touch the incendiary torch ; &[• 
forward pacification, when I know that tU$* 
country needs it, and that, by it alone, ean 
tears, blood and destruction be prevented J^- 
if to have done all this constitutes tqB&cn, 
ah ! then I am a traitor ; yes, Gentiejactena, I 
am one and feel proud of it. **•* 

Your government claims to favor liberty 
for the country; why then does it not consent 
to freedom of one's principles t Why does it 
not admit of neutrality f Why does it force 
people to take up arms without distinction 
of persons f Why has it always been op- 
posed to speaking out in public f Why did it 
oppose the country's acceptance, if it so chose, 
of General Bulce's concessions ! Why does 
it persecute to death t whoever tries to separate 
himself from said government, without 
having any intention of waging war against 
it % Why "? I will tell you.- Because then 
there would remain in the camp of the insur- 
rection only a dozen men; the only ones interested 
in the continuance of this tear between 
brethren ; this war of desolation and exter- 
mination. 

I agree that there was reason for the Cu- 
ban people to complain and be resentful 
against the government that ruled them j 
but all this has changed, not only with re- 
gard to the institution but as to the manner 
of being, as well. I am myself an example 
of what I state. I presented myself to the 
Captain General who received me in such a 
way as to prove, by his manner alone, his 
good wishes; even if these were not confirm- 
ed by the conduct which he followed in the 
Villas and wherever he has been able to 
make the impress of his own feelings be 
felt. In his proclamation he offers a pardon 
to all who will present themselves ; but as 
every medal has its reverse, so whoever 
fails to do so, must suffer the cold and in- 
exorable rigor of the law. 

Fellow-countrymen, my brethren, let us 
throw a veil orer the past. Let us look to 
the future of our families and to the pros- 
perity of our nation. . . . . ^ 

You know well how many persecutions, 
privations, and even vexations I have suf- 
fered. I forget it all and forgive, from my 
heart, all who sought my death and wanted 
my blood. I forgive all who, directly or 
indirectly, have offended me, of whatever 
nation or condition they may be. I sacri- 
fice all, all, on the altar of my country, and 
for the welfare of humanity. Why do you 
not follow my example ? 

Brethren ! let there be no more tears, no 
more blood, no more ruins ! Return to your 
firesides and let a fraternal embrace unite 
forever both Spaniards and Cubans, and let 
us all together make of this beautiful Island, 
— the Pearl of the Antillas, — the Pearl also 
of the world. Cubans, I await you, and the 
undeserved consideration shown to me by 
the first authority at Cuba, which fortunate- 
ly is held hj Sefior Don Antonio Caballero 
de Eodas, I offer to use in your behalf. For 
myself, I only seek the satisfaction of hav- 
ing always forwarded the welfare of Cuba. 
Napoleon Arango. 

March 28th 1870. 



UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 



3 9015 02874 7007 



F 

17S5 
.A66 



Arango, Napoleon 

The Cuban Rebellion. 
Address.